Entering last season, the Wolf Pack’s only offseason addition was little-known power forward Richard Bell of West Sussex, England, who didn’t log a single minute and instead redshirted.

Entering this year, the program brought in some fresh blood as it makes the transition from the WAC to the Mountain West. And each of the team’s three newcomers is expected to play a sizable role this year.

“When I say ‘a sizable role,’ they’re going to play in games,” said coach David Carter, whose team began practice Friday and will open the season Nov. 10 at UC Irvine. “How many minutes will they play? I think that’s going to vary on how everybody else is playing.”

The crown jewel of the recruiting class, 6-foot-3 guard Marqueze Coleman, might actually get the least playing time of the trio this year. The Southern California Wooden Award winner, who was a top-100 recruit out of high school, is behind returning stars Deonte Burton and Malik Story on the depth chart.

Instead of being the focal point of the team, like Coleman was last year when he led his high school to a state championship, Coleman will have to scrap for minutes in a deep backcourt. He doesn’t mind.

“I just want to fit in and whenever my number’s called I want to give the team productive minutes,” said Coleman, who averaged 21.4 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.5 steals as a high school senior. “The two players in front of me are great players. I have a feeling both of them can go to the NBA after this year. I have to be patient and learn from them. I’m fortunate to learn from such good players.”

Carter would like to turn the high-scoring Coleman into a point guard, a process that will begin this year. The fourth-year coach said minutes could be limited for Coleman in the early going, but if he stays patient and focused he could have a bigger role as the season progresses.

Burton, the reigning WAC player of the year, said Coleman has impressed him.

“He’s explosive,” Burton said. “When I watch him play it’s like watching myself. He gets to the rim, he shoots the mid-range jumper, he’s improved his 3-point jumper, he’s versatile, he crashes the boards.”

Fellow true freshman Cole Huff, a 6-foot-8 product from Southern California, is likely to be pressed into action this season. Huff, who averaged 20.8 points and 14.6 rebounds last season, will be a small forward down the road, but he will mostly play power forward this season.

At 205 pounds, he doesn’t have ideal strength for the post, but his offensive versatility is a strong suit, said Carter, who compared Huff’s inside-out skill set to ex-Nevada star Luke Babbitt.

“I like guys who can stretch the floor and he shoots the ball very well,” Carter said. “He’ll have a backup role at the power forward spot. He’s not that big, but his skill set is such that he’ll pose a mismatch for a lot of players. With his ability to put the ball on the floor, I think he’ll have a huge role this year.”

The last offseason addition was 6-foot-9, 250-pound center Ali Fall, who was born in Africa, played high school ball in Japan and came to America to play for Utah State. He never suited up for the Aggies, spending two years at the junior-college level before coming to Nevada this season.

“He’s got the power and the brute,” Carter said. “He finishes around the basketball really well. I count on him to contribute right away. He’s a good rebounder. He has a good feel for the game. He’s a great finisher. Offensively, I think he’s probably one of our most skilled guys.”

Fall, who averaged 13 points and eight rebounds at Barstow Community College last season, sounded a similar message as his fellow newcomers: He’ll do whatever is asked of him.

“I’ll take charges, I’ll block shots, I’ll defend, I’ll do anything,” said Fall, who is fluent in four languages. “I’m not the type of player who’s afraid to get hit. Whatever it takes to help the team win.”

With three talented players joining a Wolf Pack team that returns nine experienced players, minutes will be limited for the newcomers. But Carter said this is an ideal position for his program. In the past, Nevada has had to rely on newcomers to be thrust into major roles. This year, that’s not the case.

Carter also said he’s not worried about players bickering over playing time.

“Since we won last year, I think they understand the process of winning and that it’s a team game,” Carter said. “We talked about that in the spring. You can go out and be selfish, but if you do that you’re going to lose and nobody will play attention to you. You have to stay together and you have to play a role, and I think they understand that. They understand they’re all just a piece to the team.”

WOLF PACK’S NEWCOMERS

The Wolf Pack added three players in the offseason. Here’s a quick look at each player.

PG/SG Marqueze Coleman: The 6-foot-3 Wooden Award winner from Southern California was a top-100 recruit nationally, according to Scout.com. His minutes will be limited, but he had a huge ceiling.

SF/PF Cole Huff: The 6-foot-8, 205-pounder has a sweet stroke and was an excellent rebounder in high school. He’s a small forward down the road, but will mostly play power forward this season.

About this blog

Longtime RGJ Media reporter Dan Hinxman is the authority on Wolf Pack athletics, bringing you the day-to-day coverage of Nevada’s sports teams. Dan has covered almost everything the Northern Nevada sports scene has to offer and will use his knowledge to bring you authoritative and engaging Wolf Pack content. Follow him on Twitter at @DanHinxmanRGJ.